Apparatus for coiling strands



March 22, 1960 Filed July 9, 195a 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 MAX/RADIUS con. "2 2+E 2 g MEAN mmus com a. o k MEAN RADIUS COIL v o 4 c: 3 o 4 TIME- i E gMEAN mums COiL Z O u E a v 3 Mmfmmus con.

FIG. 2

DIRECTION or TRAVEL OF i orsn'rlousrzn TAP 5 4 TRAVEL TIME 4 ea I I I lI VWMKAAAAA 202 I M f 226 227 I L 230 32 I 238 228 2f2 E24/ 1 l P *6; fL TI239 235% t &t CLOSED a CLOSED o en s o PEN 22/ CLOSED OPEN CLOSEDopen CLOSED OPE N CL O$ED CEOSED J INVENTOR. G. E. HENN/NG BY czpiJW- wA Tram/5 United States Patent 1 2,929,571 I Patented Mar. 22,

'5 Claims. (Cl. 242-83) This application is a continuation-in-part of mycopending application Sserial No. 509,209; filed May 18,-

1955 and; entitled Apparatus for Distributing mentaryMaterial into CoilForm.

The present invention relates generally to apparatus for collectingstrands, and relates more particularly to improvements in the apparatusdisclosed in my copending application, which improvements enablecollection of a strand in a continuous succession of coils havingvarying radii.

An object of the invention is to provide new and improved apparatus forcollecting strands.

I A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus forcollecting a strand in a continuous succession of coils having varyingradii.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide, in combination withthe strand-distributing apparatus disclosed in my copending application,apparatus for collecting the strand in a continuous succession of coilshaving alternately increasing and decreasing radii.

An apparatus for collecting a strand being distributed along adescending helical path into a container, illustrating certain featuresof the invention, may include means for rotating the container about theaxis of the helix defined by the descending strand in one direction, andmeans for rotating the container about the same axis in the oppositedirection, in order to collect the strand in a continuous succession ofcoils having varying radii. Means may be provided for rotating thecontainer at uniformly increasing then uniformly decreasing speeds inone direction, means for rotating the container at uniformly increasingthen uniformly decreasing speeds in the opposite direction, and meansfor operating the rotatingirneans alternately, so that the coils havealternately increasing and decreasing radii.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from thefollowing detailed description of a specific embodiment thereof, whenread in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation, partially in section, of astrand-collection apparatus illustrating the invention, a portion of thefigure corresponding generally to Fig. 3 of my copending application,illustrating one form of distributing apparatus as in my copendingapplication;

Fig. 2 is a graph indicating the rotational speed of a container for thestrand as a function of time according to a preferred cycle ofoperation, and

Fig. 3 is a schematic drawing of a control circuit for operating theapparatus of Fig. 1 in accordance with the principles of the inventionso as to achieve the cycle illustrated in Fig. 2.

Referring now in detail to the drawings and in particular to Fig. 1,there is shown a strand-distributing apparatus generally in accordancewith Fig. 3 of my copending application, in combination with a means forrotating the strand receiver in accordance with the principles of thisinvention. For convenience, the elements forming a part of my'copendingapplication have been given the numerals used in my copendingapplication and the elements forming a part of this application onlyhave been given numerals starting with the numeral 200. As disclosed inmy copending application as illustrated in Fig. l, the distributingapparatus includes a supporting ring 101, having a sprocket 102 formedaround the outer periphery thereof and rotatable in a central bearing105. The ring 101 is designed to support a horizontal, annular disc 106,which is rotatable with the ring 101 about a central bearing 107. Theforegoing elements will be described in more detail hereinafter.-

The strand-distributing apparatus illustrated in Fig. l is designed tocoil filamentary material such as a strand 111, which may be, forexample, a bare wire or an insulated conductor, into a container such asa barrel 110:

of fibrous material. The barrel 110 is preferably pro-' vided with acylindrical core 112 at the center thereof for constraining the strand111 being coiled to lie in an annular area defined between the outersurface of the core 112 and the inner surface of the barrel 110.

As described in my copending application, the strand 111 passes firstbetween a pair of metering rollers 128128 forming a part of aconventional counter unit, designated generally by the numeral 129;thence downward through a fixed, hollow shaft 117; thence around each ofthree guide pulleys 130, 131 and 132; and thence to a grooved,positively-driven capstan 119, which serves to advance the strand 111and distribute the same in a descending helical path into the barrel inthe form of a continuous succession of coils.

An endless belt 127 passes about a portion of the periphery of thecapstan 119 and also about portions of the periphery of three idlersheaves 120, 122 and 123, which are spaced about the capstan 119 andfunction to tension the belt 127 and determine the angle of contact(preferably about 180) between the belt 127 and the capstan 119, thus toregulate the angle at which the strand 111 is advanced by the capstan119.

The capstan 119 and the sheaves 120, 122 and 123 are all mounted forrotation about their own axes to a mounting plate 125, which in turn isrevoluble about the fixed shaft 117, the axis of the shaft 117 beingmade coincident with the center line of the barrel 110 and thus with theaxis of the coils to be formed. For this purpose, the mounting plate 125is secured near the outer surface of the horizontal, annular disc 106,which is mounted in the bearing 107 for rotation about the fixed shaft117.

The rotatable disc 106 is connected by a plurality of: adjustable rods109-109 to the supporting ring 101,

which is formed with the sprocket 102 permitting rotation thereof by amotor 121 through a chain 124, the ring 101 also being supported forrotation about the fixed shaft 117 by the bearing 105. The first twoguide pulleys 130 and 131 are mounted to the disc 106 and the thirdguide pulley 132 is mounted to one of the rods 109-109, so that all ofthese pulleys revolve with the capstan 119 so as to maintain a fixedfeeding position relative thereto. The shaft 117, the motor 121 and thecounter 129 are all mounted to a fixed platform near the top of theapparatus.

A fixed, beveled sun gear 113 is secured about the fixed shaft 117 andmeshes with a bevel gear 118, which in turn is connected by a shaft 114to the capstan 119 to cause rotation thereof for advancing the strand111. The shaft 114 is journalled in a bearing 116, which is secured tothe plate 106. In order to distribute the strand 111 into the barrel110, the motor 121 is energized to rotate the supporting ring 101 andthe disc 106 connected thereto by the rods 109-109 to revolve themounting plate and the capstan 119 connected there to about the fixedshaft 117.

Assuming that the ring 101 is rotated by the motor t and 1 should all beequal'to onequarter of the total cycle and, further, that the maximumspeeds in both directions of rotation should be equal to each other.

With this arrangement, the container-speed vs. time chart will appearsubstantially as illustrated in Fig. 2.

As an illustrative example, a strand 111 such as an insulated wire maybe advanced by the capstan 119 at a speed of approximately 2000 feet perminute and distributed according to the principles of the invention intoa barrel 110 having an inside radius of 21 inches using a core 112having a radius of inches. With this arrangement, the strand 111 isdistributed in coil form into an annular area having a width of 6 inchesand a mean radius of 18 inches, which is the radius which the strandcoils tend to assume when the barrel 110 is stationary.

Under these conditions, the barrel 110 is rotated at a uniformlyincreasing speed in the forward direction up to a maximum speed of about37 rpm. at time t;, the strand 111 being distributed in coils ofuniformly increasing radius between the mean radius of 18 inches and,After attain-' the radius of the barrel 110, 21 inches. ment of themaximum speed of 37 rpm. in the forward direction, the rotational speedis then reduced at a uni form rate back to zero at time t at which timethe strand coils again have the mean radius of 18 inches.

The barrel is next rotated in the reverse direction at a uniformlyincreasing speed up to a miximum speed of about 37 rpm. at time t atwhich time the strand coils have the minimum radius of 15 inches, theradius of the core 112. The barrel 110 is finally rotated at uniformlydecreasing speeds in the reverse direction reaching zero at time atwhich time the coils again have the mean radius of 18 inches and onefull cycle has been completed.

A preferred apparatus for rotating the barrel 110 alternately in bothdirections and at the controlled variable speeds just described isillustrated at the bottom of Fig. 1. The barrel 110 is mounted on aturntable 200 for rotation therewith. The turntable 200 is rotatedthrough a pair of bevel gears 201-201 by a reversible, variable speedAC. motor 202, which is suitably mounted within a recess in the factoryfloor. A relatively long portion 203 of the output shaft 204 of themotor 202 is threaded and a block 206 having an internally threadedaperture therethrough is received about the threaded portion 203 forreciprocating, longitudinal movement therealong when the shaft 204 isrotated by the motor 202 alternately in opposite directions.

An electrical tap 207 depends from the block 206 and is designed to ridealong the periphery of a potentiometer, designated generally by thenumeral 208 and designed to control the speed of rotation of the motor202. A pair of limit switches 209 and 210 are mounted at opposite endsof the potentiometer 208 and are designed to be closed alternately andmomentarily by the reciprocating block 206 when the block reaches theextreme left and right positions, respectively, as viewed in Fig. 1.Momentary closure of the limit switches 209 and 210 is designed toinitiate, alternately and respectively, rotation of the barrel 110 inthe forward and reverse directions.

Referring now to the control circuit illustrated in Fig. 3, the block206, the tap 207, the potentiometer 208,

and the limit switches 209 and 210 are all illustrated- In order toprovide for the desired plan of operation I described earlier andillustrated in Fig. 2, four camoperated switches 213, 214, 215 and-216are provided,

which are actuated respectively by four timing ca m 8 218, 219, 220 and221. The cams are rotated at a pre determined constant speed in acounterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3, by a control motor 222,which drives a common cam shaft 223 through a pair of speedreducing,control gears 224-224.

The gears 224224 are selected so as to provide a desired synchronismbetween the speed of rotation of the cams and the travel of the block206, the cams being rotated at such speed that they will completeexactly one full revolution for each full cycle of operation (t -t4).For convenience in understanding the operation of the control circuit,the position of the reciprocating tap 207 at each of the times (t -tdepicted in Fig. 3

is indicated at the top of Fig. 3, with arrows showing the direction oftravel of the block 206 at each time.

Also, the corresponding state of operation (open-orclosed) of thecam-operated switches 213-216 is indi:

cated at the bottom "of Fig. 3.

The motor 202 is illustrated schematically in Fig.3; as a reversible,variable-speed, A.C. motor having three conductors 226, 227 and 228connected to the field 231 and a secondary 232 of a transformerdesignated genorally by the numeral 2.5.5. The transtormer 233 is alsoprovided with secondaries 234 and 255, which may be connected to supplycurrent to energize a pair of control relays 2.16 and 251, respectively.

1he relay 25s is energized whenever the limit switch 209 IS closedmomentarily (at the times t and 2 by the blOCK 206, which is theoperating state at the time t depicted in big. 3.

glzed, a latching contact 2325 thereof is closed to mainmm theenerglzatloh circuit therefor (assuming that the I cam-operated switch213 is closed), and an operating contact 239 is closed to permit powerto be supplied from the secondary 232 to the motor 202 through the lines226 and 227 in order to rotate the barrel in a -iorward direction.

The relay 2:] operates in a similar manner to direct rotation of thebarrel 110 in the reverse direction, the relay 257 being ehergizablefrom the secondary 255 when the limit switch 2m is closed (at the time tThe, relay 257 is also provided with a latching contact241, to maintainthe energlzatlon thereof (assuming that the cam-operated contact 216 isclosed) and an operatingcontact 242, which operates to energize themotor 202' from the secondary 262 across the alternate lines 227 and228.

"the cam 218 is designed so that the switch 213 is closed for one-halfof the cycle between the times t and t the latching circuit tor therelay 236 including the switch 213 as well as the relay contact 233 sothat, once energized at the time t the relay 236 will remain energizedto direct forward rotation until the, when the first hal'f switch 213 isopened by the cam 218 of the cycle is completed at thetime t When therelay 236 is energized, the motor 202 is operated to rotate the barrel110 in the forward direc-Z tron since the motor circuit is thencompleted between.

the conductor 226, the operating contact 239, the secondary 232, the tap207, the full length of the resistance coil 211, the cam-operated switch215 (which is maintained closed during the time interval t -t by theshape of the cam 220, as illustrated in Fig. 3), and the com monconductor 227.

Since the full length of the resistance coil 211 is now when the relay256 is so ener- I slightly larger than the mean radius. As the motorrotates in the forward direction, the block 206' will travel along thethreaded portion 2030f the motor shaft 204, from left to right as mag ain Figs. 1 and'3, which cause the tap 201 to move tothe right and thustap less resistance from 'the; resistance. coil 21 less resistance istapped, the motor 2562 increases; iiniformly. in speed to distribute thestra d 1 11 in coils o r v a e a nail. h aximum. s s reached at the timet when none o f the resista ce 21;1 i -flit fidi i ii i h? er sels h erad us s tanti equal; tq'thatof the, barrel- 11 th fl time; a; sw ghfl-t sq e tedb the can; 2 9. h r -n g 2. .4. s 9ml. a he. @1112 due s.the opposi ng configurations; of these cams; ill stra-ted in Fig! e aenretest w tches: 2 31 99 2 16; net e n l ih t m' W en. e-sn tch 1 Q 9 Q te xii did? 2 32 will. co nt1 ne rotating at itsmaximum speed sites. thetap 267 bridges the resistance'coils 211 and 212; however, the motorcircuit is now closed through the tap 267, an end portion offtheresistance 2 12, and the'sw'itch .214 rather than; through the tapv2317, a portion of the resistance 211, and the sv\ /itch -2 as wasihecase during the interval betweeh the; times t ria);

The 'b lock 2 and the tap 297.- continues tomove to the right sothattanincreasing amountof the. resistance coil21 2 placed; in the motorcircuit and the radius coils decreases until the time t is, reached, atwhich time the full length of the resistan fi; 212, is in j circuit, thespeed of'the motor isalmost Zer ,v and; the coil. radius is again themean radins. g

t. the time Q, the oppositely acting, cams, 218, and. 221 operate toopen the switch 213 and close the switch.

respectively. The opening of the switch 213 oper ats tobreak thelatching circuit for the relay 236 so as to open the operating contact 23 9 and disconnect the motor 202' from 'energization across thelines 225and 227. At the time t the limit switch 219 ismomenr tarily' closed bythe block 206 at the endtof its. travel from left to right, whichenergizes the control, relay 237 i an ou-nt of;resistance ih,series.withthe motor 202 and hus o s a hs m or d w o a m m speed 1? z er oat thetime when the full; length of the resistance. 211 is in series-withthemotor 202.: The time-t corresponds to the time r thefcoils again.having the mean radiusbut the apparatus having completed one full cycleof operation. At the time 1 the limit switch 209 is againclosedmomentarily to. energize the relay 236 and start the motor" 202running once morein the forward direction.

The cam-operated switch 213 is also-.reclosed at the time,

m ns a -ma e' thom deser -la t mfi s p r t a d e a ate What is. claimedis:

1. In combination with apparatus for coiling a strand,

including a containcrin which the strand is to becoiled, acapstanmounted above the container for continuously advancing a lengthof thestrand, and means for causing those portions: of the capstan whichare last to contactthe strand: to revolve, about the axis of the coil tobe formed. at substantially the-samespced as the speed of the strandleaving thev capstan but in'theoppositedirec:

tion thereto, wherebythe strand advanced by the capstan is continuously,distributed in a descending helical path into the container; the;improvement which comprises; means, for rotating the container abouttheaxis oi the coil to be formed alternately with and against the-direcetion of. distribution of the strand thereto inorder to 2. In combinationwith apparatus for coilingastrand,

' including a container in which the strandis to be-coiled,

a'capstan mounted above the container for=continuouslyadvancing a lengthof the'strand, and means for'ca-using those portionsof the capstan-whichare last to; contact the strand to revolve about the axis of the-:coil'to be formed at substantially thesame speed asthespeed of the strandleaving the capstan, but in the opposite direction thereto, the central;axisof the container being coincident with the axis of the coil' to beforn1e d, wh1ereby. the strand advanced by the'capstan iscontinuously-distributed in a descending helical path'into thecontainer; the-improvement which comprises: reversible, variable-speedmeans for rotating the container about its'central axis; first means forcontrolling the operatiomofisaid: rotating 7 means. sothabthecontainer-is rotated atuniformlyin When the relay 237 is energized, theoperating contact 242i is closed, which causes energization of the motor292, through the conductor 228, the contact 242, the secondary 232, thetap 207,'the entire portion ofthe resistance coil 212, the still-closedswitch 214, and the semen. conductor 227;

radii below the mean radius,

Theblock 206. will now travel from righttolett, as viewed in Figs. land3, placing successively smaller portions of the resistancei212 incircuit with themotor 7 At this time, the motor .202 begins rotating ata slow speed in the reverse'direction so as to distribute the strand 111 in coils oi; decreasing 1 202 so as to increase the motorspeed'untilthema imnm sr iecd in the reverse direction is reached at "thetime A t-the time I the switch214 is openedfby the operating cam 21 9andjth e switch 235 is closed the operating cam 229; so that the'inotor232k now energizedathrough a small iaortion'of the resistance 211 aiidthe switch 215, rather-than through a. portion ofthe-resistance 212.;and

' the switch 214'as was the'case'bet'ween'the times r meansoperableafter thesecond time interval fori-con- 7 mg the operation ofsaid rotating means so .that'the container is rotated atuniformlyincreasing speeds in the tro reverse direction forathird predeterminedtimeinterval;

duringlwhich third time interval the, strand is. collected' in coils ofdecreasing 'radii below' the normalir adiusy and fourth means operableafter; the third time interval; for

. the contalnflli lsrotated at umforrnlydecreasmg speedscontrolling the;opera-tioncf-fsaid rotating means so that in 'the reverse directiomfor afourth predeterminedtime interval, during whichfourthtime intervalthestrand is operable after the fourth time interval to provide acontinuous cycle of operation.

3. In combination with apparatus for coiling a strand, including acollecting barrel having a central core defining an annular area betweenthe barrel and the core within which the strand is to be coiled, acapstan mounted above the barrel for continuously advancing a length ofthe strand, and means for causing those portions of the capstan whichare last to contact the strand to revolve about the axis of the coil tobe formed at substantially the same speed as the speed of the strandleaving the capstan, but in the opposite direction thereto, the centralaxis of the barrel being coincident with the axis of the coil to beformed, the capstan being so arranged that the strand advanced therebyis continuously distributed in a descending helical path into the barrelforming a coil therein which normally tends to assume the mean radiusbetween the barrel and the core; the improvement which comprises:reversible, variable-speed means for rotating the barrel about itscentral axis; first means for controlling the operation of said rotatingmeans so that the barrel is rotated at uniformly increasing speeds in aforward direction, the direction of distribution of the strand thereto,reaching a maximum speed at the end of a first predetermined timeinterval, during which first time interval the strand is collected incoils of increasing radii between the mean radius and the radius of thebarrel; second means operable after the first time interval forcontrolling the operation of said rotating means so that the barrel isrotated at uniformly decreasing speeds in the forward direction,approaching zero at the end of a second predetermined time intervalequal to the first such interval, during which second time interval thestrand is collected in coils of decreasing radii approaching the meanradius; third means operable after the second time interval forcontrolling the operation of said rotating means so that the barrel isrotated at uniformly increasing speeds in the reverse direction,reaching a maximum speed in the reverse direction equal to the maximumspeed in the forward direction at the end of a third predetermined timeinterval equal to each of the first and second such intervals, duringwhich third time interval the strand is collected in coils of decreasingradii between the mean radius and the radius of the core; and fourthmeans operable after the third time interval for controlling theoperation of said rotating means so that the barrel is rotated atuniformly decreasing speeds in the reverse direction, approaching zeroat the end of a fourth predetermined time interval equal to each of theother such intervals, during which fourth time interval the strand iscollected in coils of increasing radii approaching the mean radius; saidfirst controlling means being again operable after the fourth timeinterval to provide a continuous cycle of operation.

4. In combination with apparatus for coiling a strand, including acontainer in which the strand is to be coiled, a capstan mounted abovethe container for continuously advancing a length of the strand, andmeans for causing those portions of the capstan which are last tocontact the strand to revolve about the axis of the coil to be formed atsubstantially the same speed as the speed of the strand leaving thecapstan, but in the opposite direction thereto, whereby the strandadvanced by the capstan is continuously distributed in a descendinghelical path into the container; the improvement which comprises: areversible, variable-speed motor for rotating the container about theaxis of the coil to be formed, and means for controlling the operationof said motor so that the container is rotated first at increasingspeeds in the direction of distribution of the strand thereto, second atdecreasing speeds in the same direction, third at increasing speeds inthe reverse direction, and finally at decreasing speeds in the reversedirection, whereby the strand is distributed in a continuous successionof coils having increasing and then decreasing radii.

5. In combination with apparatus for coiling a strand, including acollecting barrel having a central core defining an annular area betweenthe barrel and the core within which the strand is to be coiled, acapstan mounted above the barrel for continuously advancing a length ofthe strand, and means for causing those portions of the capstan whichare last to contact the strand to revolve about the axis of the coil tobe formed at substantially the same speed as the speed of the strandleaving the capstan but in the opposite direction thereto, the centralaxis of the barrel being coincident with the axis of the coil to beformed, the capstan being so arranged that the strand advanced therebyis continuously distributed in a descending helical path into the barrelforming a coil therein which normally tends to assume the mean radiusbetween the barrel and the core; the improvement which comprises: areversible, variable-speed motor for rotating the barrel about itscentral axis; timing means; first switching means operated by saidtiming means for controlling the operation of said motor so that thebarrel is rotated at uniformly increasing speeds in a forward direction,the direction of distribution of the strand thereto, said motor reachinga maximum speed at the end of a first predetermined time intervalcontrolled by said timing means, during which time interval the strandis collected in coils of increasing radii between the mean radius andthe radius of the barrel; second switching means operated by said timingmeans at the end of the first time interval for controlling theoperation of said motor so that the barrel is rotated at uniformlydecreasing speeds in the forward direction, the speed of said motorapproaching zero at the end of a second predetermined time intervalcontrolled by said timing means and equal to the first such interval,during which second time interval the strand is collected in coils ofdecreasing radii approaching the mean radius; third switching meansoperated by said timing means at the end of the second time interval forcontrolling the operation of said motor so that the barrel is rotated atuniformly increasing speeds in the reverse direction, said motorreaching a maximum speed in the reverse direction equal to the maximumspeed in the forward direction at the end of a third predetermined timeinterval controlled by said timing means and equal to each of the firstand second such intervals, during which third time interval the strandis collected in coils of decreasing radii between the mean radius andthe radius of the core; and fourth switching means operated by saidtiming means at the end of the third time interval for controlling theoperation of said motor so that the barrel is rotated at uniformlydecreasing speeds in the reverse direction, the speed of said motorapproaching zero at the end of a fourth predetermined time intervalcontrolled by said timing means andequal to each of the other suchintervals, during which fourth time interval the strand is collected incoils of increasing radii approaching the mean radius; said firstcontrolling means being again operated by said timing means at the endof thefourth time interval to provide a continuous cycle of operation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,995,498 Dempsey et al Mar. 26, 1935 2,849,195 Richardson et al. Aug.26, 1958 2,857,116 Krafit et a1 Oct. 21, 1958

